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Dear Parents & Carers
I hope you and your families enjoyed a happy and refreshing half term. However the week unfolded, whether through travel, holiday clubs, family visits or simply a gentler rhythm at home, these breaks in the school year really matter. They offer the girls the chance to step outside routine, to experience something different and to return with fresh perspective and renewed energy.
Although I am out of school for this first week, I can well imagine the buzz of reunion, the excited conversations and the sense of purpose that always accompanies the start of a new half term. There is something wonderfully uplifting about that collective reset. These pauses are important for our staff too. Time to rest and reflect ensures they return recharged, thoughtful and ready to continue giving the very best of themselves to the girls. The warmth and dedication that shape daily life at the Junior School are sustained by those moments to pause.
It is remarkable to think that we are already halfway through the academic year. The girls have grown so much in confidence, independence and resilience since September. The half term ahead is rich with opportunity, creativity and challenge, and I am excited for all that lies ahead.
Over the past term and a half, you may well have heard your daughter, we certainly hope you have, talking about the Learning Pit, which we introduced across both the Junior and Senior School in September. It has rapidly become part of our shared language for learning, giving the girls – and staff – the confidence and vocabulary to recognise when they are being stretched, and to articulate what it feels like to wrestle with challenge and move beyond it.
In his recent blog, Mr Davies (Deputy Head Academic), explains the thinking behind this approach and how we are embedding it thoughtfully and consistently across the school: https://www.channing.co.uk/2026/01/28/helping-children-thrive-in-the-learning-pit/
The Learning Pit helps the girls recognise that challenge is not something to avoid but something to embrace. When learning feels difficult or uncertain, that is often the moment when thinking deepens. We are encouraging pupils to name that feeling, to draw on our Channing Characters, to ask purposeful questions and to persevere with confidence. It has been inspiring to see the language of curiosity, bravery and resilience woven naturally into classroom dialogue.
You might enjoy asking your daughter:
• When were you in the Learning Pit recently?
• What strategies helped you move forward?
• Which Channing Character did you use?
These simple conversations strengthen the message that growth comes from effort and that struggle is often the gateway to real understanding.
I am inspecting another school this week, which is always professionally stimulating and provides valuable insight. I look forward to being back next week, reconnecting with the girls and sharing in the energy of the weeks ahead.
As we approach St David’s Day on 1 March, I send warm wishes to all those celebrating. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus.
With warm wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
